QUANTUM MECHANICS Quantum Mechanics or Quantum Physics is the study of behaviour of matter and its interaction with energy at atomic and sub-atomic scales and how these phenomena could be related to everyday life. It deals with discrete, indivisible units of energy called quanta. Quanta (plural of quantum) are the most basic form of any matter or energy. For example, photon is the quantum of electromagnetic waves and quarks and electrons are the quanta of matter. Quantum Mechanics is mainly based on the formula e=hv (where h is the Planck’s constant 6.62606957 × 10-34 m2 kg/s) and on the quantum theory which states that, 1. Energy is not continuous, but comes in small but discrete units. 2. The elementary particles behave both like particles and like waves. 3. The movement of these particles is inherently random. 4. It is physically impossible to know both the position and the momentum of a particle at the same time. The more precisely one is known, the less precise the measurement of the other is (Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle) 5. The atomic world is nothing like the world we live in Quantum Mechanics is the study of the world in the atomic and sub-atomic levels. This can be very useful in many of the modern scientific developments. For example, Ultra precise clocks and thermometers have been recently developed with the help of quantum mechanics as even a very small change in time or temperature can be instantly and accurately determined in the subatomic levels. Also, quantum mechanics could be used to create accurate lasers to perform specific functions or atomic robots that can enter our body and do the functions of malfunctioning body organs (this subject also falls in nano-technology which, in simple words, is the biological version of quantum mechanics). Quantum Mechanics has extensive application in virtually every other field of science. It is used in technology to create smaller, faster and better versions of computers and other devices with more space for information and is being developed to be used in medicine so that a person undergoing dialysis does not have many restraints to move around. Quantum Mechanical equipments are being used at many fields to create smaller and better versions of the present technology (for e.g. Smaller and ultra-powerful contact lenses in ophthalmology). Started in early twentieth century and developed (and still developing) in the later part of twentieth century and early twenty-first century, Quantum Mechanics is one of the fastest developing fields of physics and science. Many things once considered impossible, such as creation of a nail-sized computer and robots that can enter and control human body, are now possible with the help of quantum mechanics. Recent researches in quantum physics has been conducted on the developments of quantum magnetism, Quantum Mechanics on the macro level, teleportation and various similar fields. Scientists speculate that, with the current pace of development in quantum mechanics, many things now considered impossible such as invisibility, force fields etc. can be made a reality by the end of this century or the beginning of the next*. So, Quantum Mechanics is clearly the science of the future. *- Refer to “Physics of the Impossible” by Michio Kaku.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 11:05:30 +0000
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